CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Frankly, I was surprised to discover upon returning from vacation that my June 14 report that Gov. Joe Manchin had a conference call with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, allegedly to discuss contingencies regarding Sen. Robert C. Byrd had "set off a mini-firestorm" in Washington, according to Politico magazine.

Manchin called the speculation callous and awful, but does he really expect us to believe he and the majority leader were discussing the weather?

Actually, I think most people would be more concerned if there were no contingency plans in place in the event Byrd is unable to return to Congress - particularly given the amount of secrecy concerning Byrd's health.

Meanwhile, flight logs for the two state planes show the governor's office made three flights to Washington, D.C., in the past two weeks.

The King Air flew to Washington and back on June 17, when Manchin participated in an Internet Innovation Alliance Symposium and hosted, with Sen. Jay Rockefeller, an I-79 Technology Corridor Biometrics reception.

The King Air also went to Washington on June 21, returning June 22, coinciding with Southern Regional Education Board meetings.

Flight logs show the Cessna went to Washington and back June 16. First lady Gayle Manchin attended a Taste of West Virginia luncheon that day, sponsored by the state Division of Tourism.

The governor's office also logged flights to Washington this year on Jan. 20, for the Obama inauguration, Feb. 20-23, March 25-26, and May 12.

There are no records of any recent flights to Washington in the governor's personal plane, a Piper Saratoga, which he has used on official business as recently as June 16, to fly to the Upshur County airport to speak at Boys' State.

Other notable flights of late, Manchin flew in the King Air from Charleston to Jacksonville, Fla., and on to Fernandina Beach on June 5, then from Fernandina Beach to Miami on June 7, Miami to Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss., on June 8, with a return flight to Charleston on June 9.

Manchin attended a Democratic Governors' Association retreat in Florida, following by a Southern Growth Policy Board meeting in Mississippi.

To date this year, the governor's office has logged 29 flights on either the King Air or Cessna.

The state Public Employees Grievance Board is moving to a new location, at 1596 Kanawha Boulevard East, effective Monday.

Manchin called the speculation callous and awful, but does he really expect us to believe he and the majority leader were discussing the weather?

Actually, I think most people would be more concerned if there were no contingency plans in place in the event Byrd is unable to return to Congress - particularly given the amount of secrecy concerning Byrd's health.

Meanwhile, flight logs for the two state planes show the governor's office made three flights to Washington, D.C., in the past two weeks.

The King Air flew to Washington and back on June 17, when Manchin participated in an Internet Innovation Alliance Symposium and hosted, with Sen. Jay Rockefeller, an I-79 Technology Corridor Biometrics reception.

The King Air also went to Washington on June 21, returning June 22, coinciding with Southern Regional Education Board meetings.

Flight logs show the Cessna went to Washington and back June 16. First lady Gayle Manchin attended a Taste of West Virginia luncheon that day, sponsored by the state Division of Tourism.

The governor's office also logged flights to Washington this year on Jan. 20, for the Obama inauguration, Feb. 20-23, March 25-26, and May 12.

There are no records of any recent flights to Washington in the governor's personal plane, a Piper Saratoga, which he has used on official business as recently as June 16, to fly to the Upshur County airport to speak at Boys' State.

Other notable flights of late, Manchin flew in the King Air from Charleston to Jacksonville, Fla., and on to Fernandina Beach on June 5, then from Fernandina Beach to Miami on June 7, Miami to Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss., on June 8, with a return flight to Charleston on June 9.

Manchin attended a Democratic Governors' Association retreat in Florida, following by a Southern Growth Policy Board meeting in Mississippi.

To date this year, the governor's office has logged 29 flights on either the King Air or Cessna.

The state Public Employees Grievance Board is moving to a new location, at 1596 Kanawha Boulevard East, effective Monday.

The board's new landlord: Supreme Court Justice Margaret Workman, who used the house for her law office when she was in private practice.

On the plus side, the location is closer to the Capitol Complex than the board's old offices on Greenbrier Street, and has more parking. The rent is also cheaper, at $9.19 a square foot, including utilities and janitorial service, compared to $9.90 a square foot.

By law, the grievance board office cannot be located in a governmental building, presumably to avoid the chilling effect of having to go into a state office to file one's grievance.

Also, Supreme Court employees aren't covered by the public employees' grievance law, avoiding potential conflict for board members in having to take a case involving their landlord.

Grievance rulings can be appealed up to the Supreme Court, although cases rarely make it to that level.

Speaking of grievances, the man who escorted Fred Armstrong out of the Cultural Center when he was fired as state archivist in 2007 is taking early retirement, effective July 1.

In his retirement notice, Division of Culture of History chief of security James P. Arnold stated, "Due to current stringent management policy and procedures here at the West Virginia Division of Culture of History, I feel that I can no longer perform my job duties as chief of security in a normal manner.

"Therefore, considering workplace circumstances at this time, I am submitting my letter of retirement..."

Word is that Arnold was an outstanding employee, and even had a handwritten note from Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith in his personnel file from 2006 stating, "I would like to add the full weight of the commissioner's office behind this evaluation. Chief Arnold is an exemplary employee!"

Arnold reportedly fell out of favor with Reid-Smith following news accounts that, upon his dismissal, he allowed Armstrong to remain in the state archives library to finish editing a newsletter, and also had offered to drive Armstrong home.  

Finally, my understanding of how the Internet works is highly limited, but I always assume that anything that goes out on the Internet can be viewed by other people.

Apparently, that lesson was lost on Administration Secretary Robert Ferguson, who did not realize his short-lived Facebook page could be viewed by non-Facebook friends.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.